Bookcase



(No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. J. HOFFMAN.

BOOKOASE.

N9. 552,579. Patented Jan. '7, 1896.

AN DREW EGRMMM. PHOTOUTHQWASHINGTDN. DJ;

NioM aeL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. J. HOFFMAN;

BOOKGASE,

Na-552,579. PatentedJan7,1896.,,

To aZZ whom it may concern/.1

Be it known that I, HORACE J. HOFFMAN; a citizen of the United States, residing at (3hi-.

, v UNITED STATES PATENT T OFFICE.

HoRAcr; J. noFFMA or cinoneo, LruvoisQ BOOKCAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming art of Letters Patent No. 552,579, dated. ma 7, 1896.

Application filed April 28, 1394.. Serial No. 509,321. on model.)

cago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book Cases or Shelving, of which I do declare the following to bea full,

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention consists in the various novel features of construction hereinafter debod in m I invention. Fi 2 is a view in y b 3 a vertical cross-section on line 2 2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig.4 is a view in horizontal. Fig. 5 is a view.

section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1. in horizontalsection on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in cross-section through oneof the moldings at the front of Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section Fig. 8 is a de- The outer wallof my improved book case.

or shelving is shown as comprising the side plates A and A and the back plate A these 1 several plates being connected to the top plate A and to the bottom plate A The side plates A and A are formed with the corrugations ct,

which serve not only to give additional strength to the side plates and thus permit thinner metal to be used in their manufacr ture, but also enable a free circulation of air throughout the bookcase to be had and afford passages through which the dust may escape.

.Upon the outer edges of the vertical side walls A and A are fixed the guard strips or moldings B,these moldings consisting of tubes that are split to receive the plates A and A, the front edges of which plates are perforated to receive pins 1) that serve to firmly retain the moldings B upon the edges of the plates A and A." The moldings B will be attached to the plates A and A by slipping the moldings endwise over the edges of the plates and by this means the moldings will be securely held in place without the necessity of rivets or the like. The back plate A will be connected. to the side plates A and A by the flanges a or in other convenient ways, and in like manner also the top and bottom plates A and A will be attached to the back and side plates.

My improved bookcase is shown as comprising three sections W, X, and Y, designed for different types of books. The sectionW is more especially adapted for very heavy ledgers, and across the bottom of this section WV extend the rods (1, upon which are loosely mounted the narrow friction-rolls D. By

preference, I place beneath the rods cl suittion-rolls D, and these brace-plates or stand ards E will serve to effectively guard against the downward sagging of the bars (1 under the weight of the heavy books placed thereon. The brace-plates or standards E are preferably made as shown more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings that is to say, each of these plates is formed from a single sheet of metal that is bent outwardly, as at e, and then reverted upon itself and extended beyond the body of the plate, soas 'to form a broad base or support for the plate. My purpose in employing narrow individual frictionrolls D is to enable any book to be introduced or to be withdrawn without danger of disturbing the next adjacent book. Thus it will be seen that if a book be introduced in the compartment shown at the extreme righthand lower part of the bookcase or be withi tend to move outward the next adjacent book i or books resting upon the same rolls.

In order to enable the lower part WV of the permit the partitionplates F to be shifted freely in lateral direction. By means of these adjustable partition plates F the compartment WV can be divided off to suit the varying thicknesses of the lodgers, records or like heavy volumes that may be contained therein.

The compartment Y of my improved bookcase is shown as provided with the shelves G that consist of sheet-metal plates formed with the corrugations g, extending lengthwise thereof from end to end. These shelves G may be connected to the side walls A and A of the bookcase in any convenient manner, but I prefer to form the front and preferably also the rear edges of the shelves G with the reverted edges g, through the openings of which may be passed pins or rods g that serve to connect the shelves adjustably to the side plates A and A of the case, that are provided with bars V and V having notches o and o to receive the pins 9 The back bars V are set at a slight distance from the back of the case and have the open notches U to receive the back pins of the shelves, while the notches v of the front bar V are not only open at the rear edge to admit the front pins of the shelves but are provided also with pockets 4: that hold the shelves in position against displacement. The bars V and V afford an effective means for permitting the ready adjustment of the shelves and securely hold them in place when adjusted. The corrugations g of the shelves G serve not only to give great strength to the shelves, but are of special advantage in that they form grooves or pockets throughout the length of the shelves wherein dust may collect, and they afford also air-channels whereby a free circulation of air beneath the books can be had, and preferably the channels formed by the corrugations Q will coincide with the corrugations a in the side walls A and A of the case, thereby securing a more effective circulation of air throughout the case and forming channels whereby the dust may pass or be brushed from the shelves G. i

The section X of my improved bookcase is shown as comprising racks that are formed of the front and rear bars II and H, the connecting-bars H and 11 wherein are journaled the friction-rollers K, and at the front of these racks are mounted the rollers L, these rollers being preferably j ournaled in the outwardlybent ends of the journal plates M that are riveted to the front bars II of the rack. The

front and rear bars of each of the racks have their ends turned inwardly, as more particularly shown in Fig. 8, and through these inwardly-turned ends pass the bolts n whereby the racks are attached to the side plates A and A of the case.

It Will be observed that the rollers L at the front of each of the racks within the section X of my improved case are considerably larger than the rollers K, and the diameter of these rollers L is greater than the width of the front bars H of the racks. The purpose of thus forming the rollers L of a diameter greater than the width of the bars H is to enable the heavy volumes to be more easily inserted into their appropriate places and to enable the same rollers to prevent the books both above and below it from contacting with the edge of the front bars H. Thus it will be seen that even when the racks are set very close together the front rollers L will effectively serve to prevent the contact of the volumes with the edges of the front bars H under all conditions, and I am thus enabled'to locate the racks very close together and so economize space.

A further advantage incident to the arrangement of the front rollers L in the central position shown is that a space is afforded at each end of these rollers whereby the backs of the books can be conveniently grasped in order to withdraw them from the racks or to return them to place thereon. This is especially advantageous, as the racks are generally used for very heavy books which cannot be conveniently lifted with one hand.

A further advantage incident to attaching the journal-plates or bars M to the front of the racks is that the central portions of the racks are Very materially strengthened and thereby guarded against bending domiward in case of great strain, as, for example, when a person stands or places his weight upon the front of a rack, as is frequently done.

In order to determine the exact distance to which the volumes shall be inserted into the compartments of the section X of my'improved case, and thus secure an alignment of the backs of the volumes regardless of their size, I have provided each of the racks with an adjustable stop-plate R, with which will contact the edge of the volume when it has been placed in position upon the rack. By means of this adjustable stop-plate the backs of the volumes within the several racks will be in proper alignment, and inasmuch as heavy volumessuch as ledgers, records, or the like-are formed with the grooves w adjacent their backs, the stop-plate R will insure that these grooves shall come opposite the large rolls L, so that when one volume is inserted, and thus causes a revolution of the roll L, such movement of the roller cannot affect the volume above or below it. Thus it will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings that if the volume there shown is being inserted in place upon the lowermost rack and in so doing contacts with the roll L at the front of the rack immediately above it then the movement of such roller will not affect the :volume resting: I upon such ra'ckjbecause the stop R of such rack will retain the corresponding volume in such position that the roller L will be oppo-,-

site the groove and out of contactwith the volume. in any convenient manner, I prefer to provide each of these stops with two wires or arms 1",

provided at their ends with slots 7", through,

which pass the headed bolts 8 that carry the thumb-nuts S, these thumb nuts passing through suitable perforations in the cross-1 I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is a 1. A book 'case comprising vertical plates provided with corrugations extending lengthwise thereof in combination with horizontal plates having lengthwise corrugations arranged to coincide with the corrugations of the vertical plates,substantially as described.

2. A book case comprising a support for books, consisting of a series of narrow rollers While the stops R can be adjusted arrangedin juxtaposition and suitable rods for supporting said rollers, in combination with the series of adjustable division plates provided near their bottoms with openings to t slide freely over saidrollers and at their edges with meansfor fixing said plates indifferent positions, substantially as described.

3. In a book case, the combination with a rack for books provided with a series of rollers between its front and back, of a front roller,

the periphery of which is raised above the periphery of the rear rollers and a back stop for limiting the inward movement of the book to cause the front roller to enter the groove adjacent the back edge of the book, substantially as described. j

4. In abook case,the combination with suitable side pieces, of the adjustable stop plate R having forwardly extending arms r provided with long slots and adjusting bolts passing through said slots, whereby said stop plate can be readily adjusted, substantially as de-- scribed.

HORACE J HOFFMAN. Witnesses: l

GEO. P. FISHER, J12, ALBERTA ADAMICK. 

